Exploring Our Environment and Ecosystems

What is biodiversity and why is it important?

• Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth, and it is important for ecosystem health, resilience, and services.

• Biodiversity is the genetic variation within a single species.

• Biodiversity refers to the number of species in a single habitat.

• Biodiversity is the study of animal behavior and its importance in agriculture.

Name three major threats to biodiversity.

• Natural disasters, overfishing, urbanization

• Agricultural expansion, mining, water scarcity

• Overpopulation, deforestation, invasive species

• Habitat loss, pollution, climate change

What role do protected areas play in conservation?

• Protected areas are primarily used for recreational activities.

• Protected areas have no impact on local wildlife populations.

• Protected areas play a vital role in conserving biodiversity and ecosystems.

• Protected areas are mainly established for tourism development.

How does climate change affect species distribution?

• Climate change only affects human populations, not wildlife.

• Species distribution remains unchanged regardless of climate conditions.

• Climate change affects species distribution by altering habitats, forcing species to migrate to new areas, and potentially leading to extinction.

• Climate change has no impact on species distribution.

What are some observable effects of climate change on ecosystems?

• Observable effects of climate change on ecosystems include altered species distribution, changes in migration patterns, shifts in breeding seasons, habitat loss, and increased extinction rates.

• Decreased temperatures in polar regions

• Stable species distribution across all regions

• Increased rainfall leading to more plant growth

Explain the concept of ecosystem services.

• Ecosystem services are the benefits provided by ecosystems to humans, including provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services.

• Ecosystem services are the negative impacts of human activities on nature.

• Ecosystem services are only about the economic benefits of nature.

• Ecosystem services refer to the physical structures of ecosystems only.

List four types of ecosystem services and provide examples.

• Transportation: Road building

• Conservation: Wildlife protection

• Destruction: Habitat loss

• 1. Provisioning: Food production; 2. Regulating: Climate regulation; 3. Cultural: Recreational opportunities; 4. Supporting: Nutrient cycling.

• Industrial: Pollution control

How does deforestation impact carbon storage?

• Deforestation improves air quality by reducing carbon dioxide.

• Deforestation has no effect on carbon storage levels.

• Deforestation decreases carbon storage by reducing the number of trees that absorb carbon dioxide and releasing stored carbon back into the atmosphere.

• Deforestation increases carbon storage by planting more trees.

What are the main sources of pollution affecting ecosystems?

• Industrial discharges, agricultural runoff, waste disposal, vehicle emissions

• Natural disasters

• Ocean currents

• Solar radiation

Describe the impact of plastic pollution on marine life.

• Plastic pollution has no effect on marine ecosystems.

• Plastic pollution improves marine habitats by providing shelter.

• Marine life thrives on plastic waste as a food source.

• Plastic pollution harms marine life by causing ingestion, entanglement, and habitat disruption.